Tulip-tree Leaftier Moth - Hodges#2711
Paralobesia liriodendrana
This record describes Paralobesia liriodendrana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Inner half of front wing uniformly lilac or leaden-blue, crossed by well-defined narrow brown lines. Ground color of outer half of front wing rich ochreous-brown.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Olethreutini
- Genus
- Paralobesia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Records from the eastern half of the United States. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larva known to skeletonize leaves of Magnolia, in Florida , and on Tulip Tree ( Liriodendron tulipifera ), in Maryland. ,
Life History
Eggs are laid on the leaves from May - Sept. Young larvae bore into the mid vein near the petiole and feed in mines during the first instar. Older larvae feed under webs spun on the lower surface of the leaves or between 2 leaves webbed tightly together. Pupation occurs under the web. ( 6 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from the host plant genus ( Liriodendron ).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Paralobesia liriodendrana. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Tulip-tree Leaftier Moth - Hodges#2711 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Mike Boone; Additional contributions by anitagould , ceiseman , Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy , Marci Hess
Frequently Asked Questions About Tulip-tree Leaftier Moth - Hodges#2711
What is Tulip-tree Leaftier Moth - Hodges#2711?
Tulip-tree Leaftier Moth - Hodges#2711 (Paralobesia liriodendrana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Tulip-tree Leaftier Moth - Hodges#2711?
FWL≈7mm. Wingspan 11.5-12.5 mm.
How do you identify Tulip-tree Leaftier Moth - Hodges#2711?
Inner half of front wing uniformly lilac or leaden-blue, crossed by well-defined narrow brown lines. Ground color of outer half of front wing rich ochreous-brown.
Where is Tulip-tree Leaftier Moth - Hodges#2711 found?
Range: Records from the eastern half of the United States. ( 4 )
What does Tulip-tree Leaftier Moth - Hodges#2711 eat?
The diet of the Tulip-tree Leaftier Moth - Hodges#2711 includes Larva known to skeletonize leaves of Magnolia, in Florida , and on Tulip Tree ( Liriodendron tulipifera ), in Maryland. ,.
What is the life cycle of a Tulip-tree Leaftier Moth - Hodges#2711?
Eggs are laid on the leaves from May - Sept. Young larvae bore into the mid vein near the petiole and feed in mines during the first instar. Older larvae feed under webs spun on the lower surface of the leaves or between 2 leaves webbed tightly together. Pupation occurs under the web. ( 6 )